On Friday 7 November 2025, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis attended the memorial service for the repose of the soul of Second Lieutenant (INF) Efstratios Tsiganes and Private (INF) Ioannis Igemonas, which took place at the Memorial of the 9^th Infantry Regiment in Kalamata.

Upon arriving, he was welcomed by the Commanding General of the Centres’ Command (IV Infantry Division “PELOPONNISOS”) Major General Alexandros Chatzialexandris, the Deputy Regional Governor of Messinia Region Efstathios Anastasopoulos, and the Commander of the 9^th Infantry Regiment-Kalamata Recruits Centre Colonel (INF) Georgios Charitos.

The memorial service took place in a very emotional and respectful atmosphere, in the presence of relatives of the deceased, representatives of the local self-administration and the Armed Forces, as well as relatives of the hero, who honoured his memory.

During his speech, Mr. Davakis stated:

“Today, all of us honour an act of pure self-sacrifice that took place 42 years ago in this place, when the Spartan Second Lieutenant Stratos Tsiganes, during a grenade practice fire, made his body a shield and saved the soldiers being there, when the grenade exploded due to a trainee’s mistake.

Tsiganes and private Igemonas fell in peacetime, wearing the honoured uniform of the Greek officer and private.

We shall always remember them”.

Upon conclusion of the memorial service, Mr. Davakis visited the 120^th Air Training Wing. There, he was welcomed by the Commanding General of the Air Training Command Major General Ioannis Asimakopoulos and the Commander of the 120^th Air Training Wing Colonel Mihail Koukouvas.

The Deputy Minister, first visited the static exhibition of Aircraft and air material, the premises and the facilities of the 362^nd Air Training Squadron and of the headquarters of the Unit; afterwards he was briefed on the organisation, the mission and the current activities of the Unit, and discussed with the personnel.